Verbs like “Offer” showcase action in- Present tense: when something is happening, Past tense: when something already happened, and Future tense: when something is about to happen.
The verb “offer” describes the action of providing or presenting someone with something and leaving it up to them to accept or reject the presented object or idea. This described action takes place in the past and future tense with the help of respective conjugational forms.
Said conjugational forms of the verb “offer” have been elaborated on in this article. Let us take a look.
Offer in present tense
An action that occurs in a current or ongoing state is deemed to fall under the present tense. Let us examine how a verb like “offer” works in this particular tense.
The verb “offer” stays in this very base form or can be used as “offers” in the simple present tense. It turns into ‘is/are offering’ in the present continuous tense form, into ‘has/have offered’ in the present perfect tense form, and finally transforms into ‘has/have been offering’ in the present perfect continuous tense.
This verb’s base form is also its present participle form. The present perfect tense form makes use of the past participle form. Its other conjugational forms as showcased above are demonstrated with the help of certain inflections and modal and/or auxiliary verbs.
When can “offer” be used in the present tense?
“Offer” can be used in the present tense when a person presents someone with the action of providing them with a certain object or idea during a time which is ongoing and current and this action can be showcased as a simple, continued, or completed action depending on its conjugational form.
Examples of “offer” are used in different present-tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We offer a lot of services at a subsidized rate if the company feels that a client is not able to pay. 2. You offer a lot of services at a subsidized rate if the company feels that a client is not able to pay. 3. He/She offers a lot of services at a subsidized rate if the company feels that a client is not able to pay. 4. They offer a lot of services at a subsidized rate if the company feels that a client is not able to pay. | In the given four examples we can see how the verb “offer” is used in the simple present tense and how different kind of pronouns lend it a singular or plural quality based on basic grammar rules. The simple present tense aspect over here is showcased through the use of the verb’s base form and how it demonstrates the action of providing someone with a certain thing is simply happening during a time that is current. |
| 1. I am offering to pay for his part of the bill at the restaurant. 2. We are offering to pay for his part of the bill at the restaurant. 3. You are offering to pay for his part of the bill at the restaurant. 4. He/She is offering to pay for his part of the bill at the restaurant. 5. They are offering to pay for his part of the bill at the restaurant. | The present continuous tense aspect over here is showcased through the verb’s base form having the inflectional suffix ‘-ing’ at the end and how it demonstrates the action of providing someone with a certain thing is occurring in a progressive manner. As one can tell from these sample sentences, auxiliary verbs like ‘is’, ‘am’, ‘are’ have been placed before the word “offering” based on the pronoun that qualify the respective auxiliary verbs and also clearly show their present tense quality. |
| 1. I/We have offered the expensive hotel bedroom to the newly-wed couple. 2. You have offered the expensive hotel bedroom to the newly-wed couple. 3. He/She has offered the expensive hotel bedroom to the newly-wed couple. 4. They have offered the expensive hotel bedroom to the newly-wed couple. | The conjugational variant one can see here is the present perfect tense, which is first and foremost evident through the use of the verb’s past participle form “offered”. Auxiliary verbs like ‘have’ and ‘has’ have been put to use before the verb, with respect to what kind of noun they qualify, in a bid to highlight its present nature. The present auxiliary verbs and the past participle together give the entire term a quality of completion with respect to the action of providing someone with the option of a thing, which subsequently is what makes it the present perfect tense. |
| 1. I/We have been offering some great deals on the newly arrived tropical fruits. 2. You have been offering some great deals on the newly arrived tropical fruits. 3. He/She has been offering some great deals on the newly arrived tropical fruits. 4. They have been offering some great deals on the newly arrived tropical fruits. | When aspects of present continuous tense and present perfect tense merge it gives us present perfect continuous tense as can be seen in these sentences here as the action of providing someone with a thing or an idea seemed to have begun in the past and continues to progress in the present. The present tense quality is evident through the auxiliary verbs ‘have’ and ‘has’ which are used in accordance with appropriate pronouns. The perfect quality can be seen through the use of the modal verb ‘been’, which gives the term a sense of completion. Finally, the continuous quality can be seen through the progressive suffix form ‘-ing’ used at the end of “offering”. |
Offer in past tense
An action that occurred during a time that is over or has already gone by is called past tense. Let us explore the usage of the verb “offer” in this specific tense form.
The past tense of the verb “offer” turns from its base form to the inflectional form “offered”. It turns into ‘was/were offering’ in the past continuous tense form, into ‘had offered’ in the present perfect tense form, and finally transforms into ‘had been offering’ in the present perfect continuous tense form.
This basic past tense form is also the general past participle form. Its other conjugational forms as showcased above are demonstrated with the help of certain inflections and modal and/or auxiliary verbs.
When can “offer” be used in the past tense?
“Offer” can be used in past tense when someone provides someone else with a thing or a concept or even an idea in a time that has already gone by and has passed them and this action can be showcased as a simple, continued, or completed action depending on its conjugational form.
Since it is considered to be an action that happened in the past tense, therefore the verb too takes on its past tense form.
Examples of “offer” are used in different past tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We offered a seat to the old lady standing in the bus. 2. You offered a seat to the old lady standing in the bus. 3. He/She offered a seat to the old lady standing in the bus. 4. They offered a seat to the old lady standing in the bus. | In the given four examples we can see how the verb “offered” is used in the simple past tense and how different kind of pronouns do not have an effect on the verb itself as it functions in the past participle form throughout. The simple past tense aspect over here is showcased through the use of the verb’s past participle form which uses the inflectional suffix ‘-ed’ at the end, and also how it demonstrates the action of providing someone with a certain thing is simply happening during a time that is went by already. |
| 1. I was offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. 2. We were offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. 3. You were offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. 4. You all were offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. 5. Mira was offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. 6. They were offering food to the stray cats and dogs on the roads. | The past continuous tense aspect over here is showcased through the verb’s base form having the inflectional suffix ‘-ing’ at the end and how it demonstrates the action of providing someone with a certain thing was occurring during a time gone by in a progressive manner. As one can tell from these sample sentences, auxiliary verbs like ‘was’ and were’ have been placed before the word “offering” based on the pronoun that qualify the respective auxiliary verbs and also clearly show their past tense quality. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had offered to drop Maya’s kids back home since Maya herself had some work to tend to in her own office. | The conjugational variant one can see here is the past perfect tense, which is first and foremost evident through the use of the verb’s past participle form “offered” which by itself comprises a sense of completion to it. The auxiliary verb ‘had’ has been put to use before the verb in a bid to highlight its past nature. The past auxiliary verb and the obvious past participle together gives the entire term a quality of completion with respect to the action of providing someone with the option of a thing that in a time that has already passed, which subsequently is what makes it the past perfect tense. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had been offering to stay over and take care of our house while we were out on vacation. | When aspects of past continuous tense and past perfect tense merge it gives us past perfect continuous tense as can be seen in these sentences here as the action of providing someone with a thing or an idea seemed to have begun in the past and continued to progress in the past itself. The past tense quality is evident through the auxiliary verb ‘had’ which is used in accordance with appropriate pronouns. The perfect quality can be seen through the use of the modal verb ‘been’, which gives the term a sense of completion. Finally, the continuous quality can be seen through the progressive suffix form ‘-ing’ used at the end of “offering”. |
Offer in future tense
An action that is anticipated to occur in a short or long while from a current time is known as the future tense. Let us study the verb “offer” in future tense a little further.
The future tense of the verb “offer” is shown through the term ‘will/shall offer’. It turns the verb into ‘will be offering’ in the past continuous tense form, into ‘will have offered’ in the present perfect tense form, and finally transforms into ‘will have been offering’ in the present perfect continuous tense form.
This verbs future tense form remains in its base form as far as the main verb is concerned and the addition of modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’ are what lend it the property of being in the future tense. The future perfect tense form makes use of the past participle form.
When can “offer” be used in the future tense?
A verb like “offer” can be used in the future tense when a speaker or writer of the word feels the need to illustrate the action of presenting someone with the provision of a thing or idea in a time that is yet to arrive, be it in a short or long while.
Examples of “offer” are used in different future tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall offer help in case of an emergency that might take place in the building premises. | In the given four examples we can see how the present participle of the verb “offer” is used in the simple future tense. The simple future tense aspect over here is showcased through the use modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’ and how it demonstrates that the action of providing someone with a certain thing is simply going to happen during a time that is yet to arrive. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall be offering the book for Riya to borrow as she has been asking for it since a long while. | The future continuous tense aspect over here is showcased through the verb’s base form having the inflectional suffix ‘-ing’ at the end and how it demonstrates the action of providing someone with a certain thing is occurring in a progressive manner in a time that is yet to come by. As one can tell from these sample sentences, the modal verb ‘be’ has been placed before the word “offering” that also adds to its future progressive nature. Modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ must always be used to signify the future tense. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have offered the money back if they wanted to by now, but as we know they must have already spent it. | The conjugational variant one can see here is the future perfect tense, which is first and foremost evident through the use of the verb’s past participle form “offered”. The auxiliary verb ‘have’ has been put to use before the verb in a bid to highlight its ‘perfect’ nature. The modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ along with the auxiliary verb and the past participle together give the entire term a quality of completion with respect to the action of providing someone with the option of a thing, which subsequently is what makes it the future perfect tense. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have been offering them with some snacks and drinks at the event as it is going to be a long night. | When aspects of future continuous tense and future perfect tense merge it gives us future perfect continuous tense as can be seen in these sentences here as the action of providing someone with a thing or an idea is predicted to begin sometime in the future and continue in said future. The future tense quality is evident through the modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’. The perfect quality can be seen through the use of another modal verb ‘been’, which gives the term a sense of completion. Finally, the continuous quality can be seen through the progressive suffix form ‘-ing’ used at the end of “offering”. |
Conclusion
As can be concluded, a verb like “offer” can have multiple variations with the help of modal and auxiliary verbs, as well as inflectional forms that make up for its different conjugation versions in the three different tenses and sub-tenses.
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